BOSTON — A two-month suspension of the 24-cents-per-gallon state gas tax proposed by Gov. Maura Healey last month has been stripped by lawmakers from a supplemental budget bill now moving through the House.

Healey made her pitch just days after her Republican challenger in the general election, Mike Minogue, announced a similar proposal, prompting many to criticize Healey for “copying” Minogue. Healey’s GOP challenger himself called called the governor’s move an “election ploy.”

“Governor Healey’s gas tax suspension would give badly needed relief to Massachusetts residents struggling with the high cost of gas because of President Trump’s war, while making sure savings are passed down to drivers and protecting critical funding for transportation projects,” Healey spokesperson Jacqueline Manning told the Herald in a written statement. “The Governor is going to continue to push for this relief for people and remains committed to working with the Legislature to get it done.”

House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz released a joint-statement, failing to address Healey’s proposal and instead explaining that the $2.35 billion supplemental budget will address artificial intelligence, maternal mental health care, the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), MassHealth, and more.

“This supplemental budget addresses important time-sensitive deficiencies, provides support for maternal mental health services, limits the use of AI in political advertising, and provides funding for vital programs — including for MassHealth, DTA caseworkers, and for the life sciences sector,” Mariano and Michlewitz said. “We look forward to continued conversations with our colleagues about these important issues, and to passing this legislation tomorrow.”

The House Ways and Means Committee voted Tuesday morning to send the supplemental budget to the full House for a vote.

“While we remain opposed to pausing the gas tax, as it would limit our ability to fund critical infrastructure projects while doing little to alleviate costs for residents given that savings may not be passed on to customers, we continue to negotiate bills related to energy affordability, access to primary care, and economic development — with an ultimate focus on bringing costs down for residents and supporting businesses and working families across Massachusetts,” Mariano explained to the Herald.

Minogue, in a statement sent to the Herald, reaffirmed what he said immediately following Healey’s September announcement, calling it a “campaign ploy” that the governor knew would fail to gain any muster.

Minogue said the failure of Healey’s proposal on Beacon Hill was no surprise.

“As predicted, this was a political stunt, pure and simple. It’s a sad game to play with hard-working Massachusetts families who are looking for meaningful relief. Families can’t pay their bills with Maura Healey’s news conferences and press releases that are just for show,” said Minogue.

“As governor, I’ll suspend the gas tax anytime gas prices rise above $4.00/gallon. And I’ll work to eliminate the gas tax completely, offsetting the revenue by rooting out waste, fraud and corruption. Massachusetts can’t afford four more years of “solutions” that are nothing more than an election-season show,” he said.

Minogue’s proposal, specifically, calls for a gas tax suspension whenever the price of regular gas rises above $4.00 per gallon. If elected, any gas tax suspension proposal from Minogue would also have to pass the House and Senate.

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance is slamming House lawmakers for stripping the gas tax suspension, what it calls a chance “to give taxpayers a break.”

“The Governor’s two-month gas tax suspension would have provided some relief at the pump, while Mike Minogue has proposed a more substantial approach that would suspend the gas tax whenever prices rise above $4 a gallon,” said Mass Fiscal Executive Director Paul Craney.

“There are ideas on the table to give taxpayers a break, but legislative leaders don’t seem interested in any of them. Massachusetts families are being squeezed from every direction, and Beacon Hill’s response is to keep collecting every penny it can from them at the pump,” he said.

Healey’s announcement, her legislation, and current comments on a gas tax holiday are a complete turnaround from her previous statements on suspending the state gas tax, where she has called it a “gimmick” and instead called on Massachusetts to decrease its reliance on fossil fuels.

The idea has also not been supported by the state’s other top legislative leaders, including Mariano, who has said a state gas tax suspension is not “a real serious attempt to provide relief,” also calling it a “political stunt.”

“It was different time. We weren’t at war. We didn’t have a president in Donald Trump who every day is jacking up the cost of everything. And we didn’t know a situation where it looks like there’s no end in sight and no plan,” Healey said when pressed by reporters on changing her tune. “We didn’t have a situation where you had tariff taxes on everything and drastic cuts to health care and housing and infrastructure.”

Minogue criticized Healey in a press conference outside the State House immediately following her announcement, equating it to a campaign stunt when informed of the announcement by the Herald.

The Massachusetts Republican Party also called out Healey for “stealing” Minogue’s original idea.

“When Democrats have to steal great Republican ideas six weeks before an election, you know they realize their policies just aren’t working for the people,” MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale said in a written statement.

“Either way, it is nice to see Mike Minogue is already achieving results for taxpayers. Thanks Mike!,” she said.

Meanwhile, the average price of regular gasoline in Massachusetts is currently sitting at $4.26 per gallon, according to AAA.

The full House is expected to vote on the supplemental budget on Wednesday.

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